Raise a glass

I am constantly surprised by what I find in department stores.  In the US, department stores are filled with clothes and house goods, like sheets.  But in Japan, there are fancy clothing shops; office supply departments; and glorious food departments to name a few.  Department stores are very nice and high end.  They carry top of the line products and are pretty expensive.  But the things you find are treasures.

There are also surprises.  We recently found a brewery inside a department store.  A brewery!  It was set up as a tasting bar with some food offerings as well.  I loved the charts that showed the makeup of what was on tap. 

When my husband saw it, he was eager to try it out.  So much of the beer in Japan is lager, which my husband is not a fan of.  Frankly, I don't prefer lager either.  So, seeing this microbrewery, inside a department store, that brewed unique blends, was very intriguing. 

We decided to try a beer that was flavored with tea leaves in place of the usual hops.  The hops were noticeably absent from the beer.  It was tasty, and we both enjoyed it.

In a different department, there was more alcohol fun.  Customers can buy a fun glass bottle, which is then filled up with whatever sake they choose from the menu of sake's on tap.  Sake (pronounced saw-kay) is the traditional drink in Japan.  It is similar to wine (or beer for that matter) in that there is a wealth of types and flavors and intensities. 

I was quite surprised to find a brewery inside a Seibu department store in Tokorozawa.  It is so random, yet also so normal for here.  Just when you think you know what to expect, Japan throws you a curve ball.  But as long as that curve ball comes with beer, I may be okay with that.